Former NY Islanders GM Lamoriello explains why Simon Holmstrom's rise was no accident

Lou Lamoriello didn’t just explain his philosophy on Hockey Night in NY on Sunday night—he reinforced it with the kind of conviction that has defined his career.

Speaking with Sean Cuthbert and Arthur Staple, Lamoriello pointed to Simon Holmstrom as a clear example of why patience in player development still matters.

“We’re all very proud of him,” Lamoriello said of Holmstrom. “He had the patience when he came over… to work at the game, and he will continue to get better and better.”

That patience, Lamoriello emphasized, is increasingly rare—but essential. Holmstrom didn’t arrive as a finished product, but he did arrive with foundational traits that can’t be taught. “The one thing he always had was hockey sense, which you can’t teach,” Lamoriello explained. “And he also had a frame of hockey strength… very difficult to get off his feet and very strong in the corners.”

Those raw tools needed refinement, and more importantly, belief. “What he had to do was just believe in himself and grow in it, get some confidence,” Lamoriello said. “And you can see that in his play today.” What the Islanders are seeing now is a player evolving into exactly what the organization envisioned—a steady, impactful presence in all situations. “He’s one of the better two-way players in the game, in my opinion, or will be,” Lamoriello added, noting Holmstrom’s ability to contribute “both offensively and defensively” while maintaining a calm, consistent demeanor.

But Lamoriello also made it clear that Holmstrom’s path is becoming harder to replicate. “I wish we could do that more often now in the game,” he admitted. “With the early free agency… players coming in and going right into the league… they want to step in.” It’s a shift he doesn’t fully embrace. “I would wish that you could always have one or two years minimum in the minors,” he said. “It’s difficult to play in the minors… and it helps you grow.”

It worked with Holmstrom, but others may not be afforded the same opportunity.

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